Multiwheel drive for vehicles



A. F.I MASURY ET AL June 14,1927.

MULTIWHEEL DRIVE FOR v EHICLES Filed Sept. 26, 1925 2 Sheet$-$heei 1 June 14 1927. 1631975 l A. F. MAsURY E1' AL MULTIWHEEL DRIVE Foa \EHI :L.BS V

Filed sept. 2e, 1925 2 sheets-snee*v 2 'fw El g 4:5

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'il in" r .'/lll- E i INVENTURS Patented` June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ALFRED F. MASURY AND CHARLES FROESCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS T0 INTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION- OF DELAWARE.

MULTIWHEEL DRIVE FOR VEHICLES.

,Application led September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,738.

The invention relates to drives for multiwheel vehicles wherein la plurality of pairs of shafts are Vdriven through a power apportioning device which avoids the use ot a complete diilerentiating driving connection between the inter-related shafts and supplies cushioning elementsl to absorb strains and stresses and minimize vibrations.

' Although the mechanical differential de-l vices appel-tion the power between vthe shafts, they are inflexible and fail to al sorb shocks and strains due to driving and braking. The present device provides a dcvice capable ot' sup'ilying this impositive drive and of absorbing the aboveanentioned Shocks.

Its application extends to all types of vehicles and of any number of driving wheels and may be disposed atany suitable point in thel driving mechanism, such as tor example, on the chassis as part ot the sprung weight, or ahead, between or behind a set of driving axles.

The present invention is an improvementv on the device shown in copending applica.- tio`n No. 46,695, wherein the rubber connect ing members transmit power under compression. In the present device the rubber blocks transmit power under compression, shear and'torsion and a more impositivo connection is obtained.

. Other objects of the invention and possible variations of the structure will appear as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description7 wherein:

Figure 1 is a section taken on the line 1.,-1 ot Figure 2 through the longitudinal axis ot the device and showing the construction ot the power apportioning device.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1 and .looking in the .direction ot the larrows, showing the spacing ot the rubber blocks between the driving and` driven members.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the invention wherein the apport/ioning means applies power to the jack shafts and rear wheels of an automobile.

Figure 4 shows still another modification as applied to oppositely extending jack shafts.l

Figure 5 is a sectional View on lines 5f-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows. f

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, 1t will be seen that the structure supporting the device to the frame of the vehicle is shown in dotted lines as at 1. This support 1s provided with a housing 2 at one end 'for enclosing the take-oil mechanism of onel branch ot the dividing means and at the other end with a' bearing 3 for supporting the propeller shaft 22. The housing 2 is provided with a `removable tace plate 4 which, in turn, has a flanged portion 5 supporting a collar (i. On the inner end of the ilange 5 is provided a throat member 7 and between this member and `the collar 6 is positioned the ball race 8. Collar 6, is provided with a Hang-e. S) so' spaced from the end that when the collar is abutting the race 8,

the flange will be abutting-the outer end of' the fiange 5. The collar 6 may be screwed into the flange. 5 by suitable threads. The flange 5 may be strengthened by suitable webs l0. t

Collar 6 is further provided with a throat 11 in its outer end against which may abut vthe ball. race of bearing 12 whichisupports the transmission sha-tt 32. Screwed in'to the outer end o'f the collar is a nut 13 which secures the ball race in place and may provide a packing 14 'for the shaft 32.' The 'face plate f1 may be bolted or otherwise securedv to the housing 2.

The other side ot the housing 2 is provided with a stepped flange 15, the inner portion ot which supports the ball race of bearing 16 and the outer portion of which superts the racc ol' bearing 17, tho-latter being ield against shoulder 18 by theunit 19 which screws into the outer end ot' the llange 15. In addition,f nut 1S) provides a packing for collar 26 ot' housing 24.

f Bearing 3 is secured against the abutment 2O by shouldered tap 2lwhich also provides a packing for the propeller shaft 22, which lis supported in the .lufaring 3.

Secured to thel propeller shaft 22 by nut 28 is a housing 21 which is provided with a central transverse partition 25 and a collar 26 at its other end. The collar 26 is support-- ed by the bearing 17 in the flange 11' ot housing 2. Disposed on opposite transverse walls 0f housiruT 24 are. sockets 27 adapted to recentrically mounted driven means extending urto the housing, means carriedby the ends ot the concentric means for receiving ap portionedA power, and means mounted be-.

-toned power, and meais mounted between the housingr ends and the respective power receivingr means for apportiomng p ower under torsion therebetween.

7. In a power apportioning housing and means to roi ete the same, a partition mounted centrally within the housing and providing a bearing, concentrically mounted driven members extending into `the housing, the end of the inner member being journaled in the bearing, discs mounted on the ends of the driven members, one being on one side-andv the other on the other side of the partition, and means mounted between the respective discs and the partition and end walls for `apportioning power be tween the driven members.

8. 'In a power apportionin' device, a housiuo'and. means to rotate the same, a parti tidn mounted centrally within the housing and' providing a bearing, concentrically mounted driven members extending into the housing, the end of the inner member be ing 'ournaled in the bearing, discs mounted on the ends of the driven members, one bein on one side and the other on the other sidje of the partition, and means mounted be tween the respective discs and the partition and. end walls for apportioning power under torsion between thedriven members.

9. In a power apport'ioning device, a housing and means to rotate the saine, a partition mounted centrally within the housing and providing a bearing, conceutrically mounted driven members extending into the housing, the end of the inner member being journaled in the hearing, dises mountcd'on thciends of the drieen members, one being on one side and the ot'heron the other side of the partition, sockets spaced radially about the ends of the housing.;v in opposed relation, correspondingr sockets upon opposite sides of each disc in line with the first mentioned soclwts, apertures in the partition eorrespondingly .spaced with the sockets and inv line therewith, rubber columns in the apertures and lit (rd into opposed sorluus on thc ,fl'tislgctztiw device, a

discs, and rubber columns fitted between the sockets on the other side of the discs and the sockets in the respective end walls.

10. In, a power apportioning device, a frame mounted on the chassis of` a motor vehicle, the trame vhaving a longitudinal yoke shaped extension, a bearing in the bi ht of the yoke and a propeller shaft journa ed therein, a housing journaledtherein, a housing formed in the frame between the le of the yoke, a face plate for one side o the housing and forming a closure for the same, a rotatable housing secured at one end vto the propeller shaft within the yoke, means for 'ournaling the other end of the rotatable iousing within the housing in the frame concentric driven means extending into the housing, means wthin the housing to apportion power from the housing therebetween, bearing means in the housing and face late for supporting the outer of the mem rs, means mounted upon the said member witbin the housing for taking off powerl therefrom, bearing means secured to the face plate beyond the outer bearing means for supportinor the inner member and means Vsecured to the end of the inner member to take olif power therefrom.

11. In a vehicle, a propeller shaft, jack` shafts, a housino', means carried by the housing and operab e between the same and the respective jack shafts comprising yielding, nonmetalli'c means for apportioning power between the respective jack shafts and a final drive between the propeller shaft and the housing.

12. In a power apportioning means, a housingv and means to rotate the same, jack shafts extending into the housin Y, means carried by the ends of the jack s ats for receiving apportioned power, and means mounted betweenV the housing ends and the respective power receiving means for apportioning power therebetween.

13. In aj power apportioning device, a housing and means to rotate the same, a partition mounted centrally within the housing, jack shaftsextending into the housing, discs mounted on the ends ofthe jack shafts, one being on one side andthe other on the other side ot the partition, and means mounted between the respective discs and the partition and end walls for apportioning power to the jack. shafts.

This specification signed this 18th da'y of September A. D. 1925.`

ALFREj/l) F. MASURY. cuantas FBoEsca. 

